TI 08. Carcass and palatability characteristics of water buffalo vs. Zebu type cattle

Ten savannah-fed, male water buffaloes (5 whole and 5 castrated) were compared in carcass traits and meat quality with two grass-fed groups of ten Zebu-influenced cattle each (ZEBU-I, a sample of well-managed cattle of known history or ZEBU-II, a sample of slaughter cattle of unknown history) selected from a larger data bank to be paired off, at least, in sex, fat cover uniformity and marbling scores to buffaloes. Despite the fact that buffaloes were younger (22 mo. old) at slaughter than cattle groups (26-29 mo. and 36-48 mo. old, as appraised by records or dentition patterns, respectively), their carcasses looked either less (P<.05) youthful than ZEBUI or had the same (P>.05) maturity as ZEBU-II. Zebu-type carcasses graded better (A/A-B) than buffalo counterparts (C). Buffaloes surpassed both cattle groups in backfat thickness (P>.01) but cutability values were similar to ZEBU-I (P>.05), and a significant species x sex interaction was detected for high-valued boneless cuts when compared to ZEBU-II. Steaks from buffaloes as compared to those from ZEBU-I and ZEBU-II, had lower (P<.01) cooking losses, lower shear force values (3.24 kg vs. 6.47 kg, P<.01; and 4.20 kg, P<.06; respectively) and showed distinct advantages in sensorial quality